Railway-splice.



N0, 343,732. YPATENTED FEB. 12, .1907.

J. s. BECK.

' RAILWAY SPLICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7, 1906.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1- PATENTED FEB. 12, 1907,

J. S. BECK.

RAILWAY SPLICE.

APPLIGA'FION FILED NOV. 7, 1905.

2 5HEETS-SHEET 2.

16. J59 Maw THE NORRIS PETERS ca., WASHINGTON, D c.

arena orrrcn JOSEPH S. BECK, OF MEDINA, OHIO.

RAILWAY-SPLICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1907.

Application filed November 7,1906. Serial No. 342365.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH S. 131201;, a citizen of the United States, residing at Medina, in the county of Medina and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Splices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in railways, more especially what may be termed splicebars therefor. Its objects are to effectively couple together adjacent rail-sections, to guard against the displacement of such rail-sections in event of the carwheels in case of derailment stripping oil the nuts upon that side of the track, to lock the nuts against accidental jarring off or unscrewing of the nuts, and to accomplish these ends in a simple, economic, and effective manner.

Said invention consists of certain structural features or instrumentalities, substantially as hereinafter fully disclosed, and specifically pointed out by the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a plan view thereof. Figs. 2 and 3 are opposite side views of the same. Fig. 4 is a cross-section thereof produced in the line of one of the pawlandratchetequipped bolts. Figs. 5 and 6 are disassembled perspective views of a spring locking dog or pawl and a ratchet-nut, respectively.

In carrying out my invention 1 suitably provide splice-b ars 1, one for each side of the rail-sections 2, oppositely to the joint of the latter, as usual. Said splice-bars are connected together and held firmly against the lateral surfaces of the rail-sections by nutequipped bolts 3, having angular surfaces 4 where they pass through one splice-bar, the latter accordingly having a corresponding aperture 5 for its reception to prevent the accidental turning of the bolts, as will be readily appreciated.

Upon diagonally opposite or alternating ends of the four bolts 3 employed in connec tion with the splice-b ars 1 for connecting two railsections together are screwed or applied ratchet-nuts 7, suitably adapted for the convenient application of a wrench thereto. Also applied to each of said bolts are spring dogs or pawls 8, but having the1r platelike angular apertured ends 9 recelving diagonally opposite or alternating ends of said bolts for engagement with said ratchet-nuts, and accordingly for the retention of said ratchet-nuts against accidental turning or unscrewing. The free ends of said pawls or dogs which are caused to have engagement with said ratchet-nuts, are effectively so held by the spring tension of said pawls or dogs. Said pawls or dogs are preferably twisted toward their free or effective ends, thus providing practically for their increased tension or torsional action as they are stressed into initial engagement with said ratchet-nuts. Also inserted upon the bolts 3 between the ratchet-nuts 7 and the splice bars 1 are washers 10 in order not only to provide a suitable jam or bearing surface for said ratchet-nuts, but also to leave a space between said splice-b ars and nuts for a purpose presently seen. Said dogs or pawls are also each provided with a pendent integral lip 11,

depending from the inner lateral edge thereof.

within said space behind the ratchet-nut, to guard against the outward or lateral displacement of said pawls or dogs from any jarring action.

It is therefore apparent from the aforesaid arrangement and construction of parts that in event of the derailment of a car or cars the wheels in leaving the rails could strip the nuts from their bolts upon only one side of the latter, which, however, would still leave the remaining nuts and bolts intact, and con sequently the rail-sections connected together, thus preventing their displacement. It is further observed that said invention is exceedingly simple, readily applied, and relatively inexpensive.

I claim 1. In a railway, splice-bars applied to opposite sides of the rail-sections, screw-bolts inserted through said rail-sections and splicebars and equipped with ratchet-nuts, two such screw-bolts with their nuts being arranged upon each side of the rail-joint, and means of connection between said bolts and nuts, such connection being effected upon each side of each rail-section between a bolt immediately adjacent to the rail-joint and a nut of a successive bolt, said connecting means comprising dogs fixed to diagonally opposite ends-of said bolts and engaging correspondingly-arranged nuts of said bolts re spectively, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a railway, splice-bars applied to opposite sides of the rail-sections, screw-bolts inserted through said rail-sections and splicebars and equipped with ratchet-nuts, two such screw-bolts with their nuts being arranged upon each side of the rail-joint, and

IOR

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means of connection between said bolts and nuts, such connection being effected upon each side of each rail-section between a bolt immediately adjacent to the rail-joint and a nut of a successive bolt, said connecting means comprising spring-dogs fixed to diagonally opposite ends of said bolts and engaging correspondingly-arranged nuts of said bolts, respectively, said spring-dogs having lateral pendent lips depending iiiterinedially of said splice-bars and said ratchet-nuts, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a railway, the splice-bars applied to opposite sides of the rail-sections, screw-bolts applied. for efiective action upon each side of the rail-joints, ratchet-equipped nuts, said nuts being arranged upon diagonally opposite ends of said bolts, and spring dogs or pawls engaging said ratchet-nuts, and each having a depending lateral lip adapted to extend down behind said nuts said spring-dogs having angular apertures receiving corresponding portions of said bolts.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH S. BECK. Witnesses GEO. DEMING, I. H. RIOKARD. 

